New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-01
MR.. LATHROP AND HIS PLAY.
HIS IDKAs on DRAMATIC CRITICISM.

TO the Edttor OF The Tribune.
SIR; 1 sec 1t stated in THE TRIBUNE OF April
20 that "Elaine"-a play constructed by Mr.. Harry
Edwards and myself, with text partially founded on
Lord Tennyson's Idyll-is a bad play, which ex-
ceedngly well received by "a remarkable audience,
numerous, intellectual and appreciative." Is then,
the judgment OF remarkable and Intellectual audience
so worthless that it may be fooled and mised by bad
arti
This is not the only confusing statement made in
your critics article. Further on he says: "Mr
Lathrop and Mr. Edwards hayo made good play
could DO made out OF the story OF Elaine" So
1t appears that it is a bad play, yet Is good
ono as could DO made. Another assertion by your
critic is: Their text Is mainly composed Of Mr.
Tennyson's own words" The truth IL that tho
whole play contains about 1850 lines Of blank verse,
and 900 VI those-or two-thirds of tho composition
are entirely Of my own conception and writing, with
scarcely hint derived from the poem.
Your critic goes to bestow praise upon the
Laureates blank verso, magnificent description,
and magnificent in several other ways" but he thinks
1t not direct and adequate dramatic expression To
Illustrate his point he cites line.
Leaving the stony shadows Of his ROOM"
and Lanoelos soluoquy at the end Of the first act,
whore tho four seasons are used ss SMILES TO de-
scribe the knights Iove-moods. "In the original
poem," says tho critic, "theso descriptions"
Now it happens that the line above quoted does not
occur, and not suggested In the original poem.
appear in tho poem. Tho soloquy contains sixteen
lines and Of the whole speech exactly one line and
four words taken from the poem. l am dvned
between regret that l have failed TO please the
writer Of ina. notice and graihcaton Mt the honor
whicn he unwitungly pays me by atributng my
TO TenDyson.
G0od-temIerd discussion OF artistic and dramatic
matters always profitable. l that Mr..
Edwards and /, c0llabOators have quarrel with
two or three adverse critics, and equally sure
that play has come out successfully IRON Tho
ordeal OF scrutiny by audience containing many
people who would have been swift TO pick flaws
and give the condemnation OF silence had they not
approved the work.
but this is not a personal question. elaine" may
DO bad play, considered IRON point OF view that
shuts out everything which Is not modelled accord
Ing TO single rigid scheme OF construction. But
may there not DO other standards OF construction
equally meriting consideration, study and possibly
res Lcctl l might condemn q criuc as bal, simply
because he did not conform TO my standard of
criticism. But he ought not TO be condemned on
that ground so long as he Is honest.
IL seems to me that should all do our best
toward keeping large horizon open for current
dI ANA, and toward aiding the drama 20 voyage In
many directions, discover new shores, and find new
ports aud harbors. We shall not 10 this II Insist
upon Judging all plays by ono conventional rulo.
The needle OF criticism should be truo to the pole OF
genuine Imaginative art; but tho artist Is not bound
TO sail always duo north or due south There are
many points the compass. II the drama IL to
that latitude Ia just important as longi-
tube. Very respectfully,
Ne,o- YorJ. Aprll 40 1887.